Suitcase



w. u. HASKELL.

SUITCASE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1916-. RENEWED JUNE 25, 1920.

Patented Feb. 1,1921.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

WAL'IER N. HASKELL, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

SUITCASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 14, 1916, seriaino. 120,066. Renewed June 25, 1920. Serial No. 891,886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known .that I, WALTER N. HASKELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of l/Vhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suitcases, of which the followingis a specification.

M invention pertains to suit-cases and similar articles, and has for its purpose to provide a means wherebysuch devices and their contents will be safeguarded against theft, or against being carried away by mistake.

Travelers upon railway trains frequently leave their suit-cases or traveling-bags unprotected while they spend some time in the smoking-car, dining-car, or toilet room. These articles are also left temporarily unguarded in railway stations, restaurants, automobiles, and many other places. By the use of the present invention attention is at once attracted to the suit case upon an attempt being made by any person to appropriate the same wrongfully or by mistake.

In the drawings Figure 1 isa vertical longitudinal section of a portion of a suitcase, and my inventionas applied thereto, with the parts locked. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the handle mechanism unlocked and open. Fig. 3 shows a suit-case in side elevation, in position when attempted to be carried with the parts disconnected.

1 represents a suit-case of an ordinary pattern, of which only an upper fragmentary part is illustrated in the first two figures, wherein the numeral 2 indicates the top of the main part of the suit-case. Fixed to the outer face of the top 2 is a casing 3, in one end of which is pivoted one end of a handle 4;, as at a, the opposite end of such handle being provided with an extension 5 adapted to pass through an opening6 inthe casing 3. The extension 5 is provided with an opening to admit the end of a bolt 7,

slida le in the casing 3. In the upper face of the bolt 7 is secured a thumb button 8, the shank of which is movable in a slot 9 in the casing 3. By this means the bolt can be withdrawn to release'the extension 5.

In the lower face of the bolt 7 is a recess 10, adapted to be engaged by a pin 11, passing upwardly through an opening 12 in the top 2 and provided with an upward tension by means of a s ring 13 secured at one end on the inside 0 the top 2. The pin 11 is provided on its lower end with a knob 14,

bolt 7 inwardly, whereupon an attempt to lift the case by means of the handle will result in one end of the suit-case tipping downwardly as shown in Fig. 3. This will at once attract the attention of other persons in the vicinity of the suit-case. Then the ownerwishes to again transport the case or bag, he opens the same, releases the bolt, and reconnects the handle.

1 Accidental slipping of the bolt 7 is prevented by means of a stop 15 fixed tothe inner face of the casing 3, at the end of the bolt. The upward pressure of the pin ,11 against the bolt 7 holds the end thereof in contact with the stop, and prevents movement of 'said bolt inwardly, but when it is desired to operatethe bolt,a slight downward pressure upn the button 8 will overcome the force of the spring 13, and permit the bolt to pass beneath the stop.

The central portion of the casing 3 may be utilized for the usual locking devices of the suit-case, and while the lockin mechanism for the handle 4 is entirely independent of the means for locking the cover of the suit case, yet the two mechanisms can be easily connected mechanically, so that the turning of a key in the suit-case lock will operate to withdraw the pin 11, and permit the bolt 7 to be returned to a locking position without opening the suit-case.

While the devices hereinbefore shown and explained are amply sufiicient to protect a suit-case in which they are incorporated, from theft or accidental removal, additional security may be attained by the following means ;-On the inside of the top 2 is secured a casing 16, containing an alarm mechanism, which, in the present embodiment, consists of a bell 17, capable of being sounded by a hammer 18, actuated by spring mechanism as at 19. The hammer 18 is normally held from movement by a pin 20, slidable in the casing 16, and connected at its outer end with a projection 21 of the pivoted end of the handle 4, which projectempted to be carried by someone other than the owner thereof. Various alarm devices might be substituted for the one above set forth.

It is also obvious that numerous changes can be made in the handle mechanism first set forth herein, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

While my invention has been shown and described herein as applied to a suit case, the same can be readily adapted for use with traveling bags and other receptacles which are designed to be transported from one place to another by the owner thereof.

/Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is;

1. A device of the class described, C0111- prising a receptacle; a handle hingedly connected therewith'at one of its ends, and provided at its opposite end with bolt engaging means; a bolt carried by said receptacle adapted to engage the free end of said handle, operable from the outside of the receptacle; and a spring-controlled catch on the inside of said receptacle, adapted to hold said bolt in withdrawn position.

2..A device of the class described, comprising a receptacle; a handle hingedly connected therewith at one of its ends, and provided at said hinged end with a tongue projecting into the receptacle; means for detachably holding the opposite end of said handle; and sounding devices within said receptacle operatively connected with said tongue.

3. A device of the class described. comprising a receptatcle; a handle hingedl v connected therewith at one of its ends, and provided at said hinged end with a tongue projecting into said receptacle; a bolt carried by said receptacle adapted to engage the free end of said handle, operable from the outside of the receptacle; a spring-controlled catch on the inside of said receptacle, adapted to hold said bolt in withdrawn position; and sounding devices on the inside of said receptacle operatively connected with said tongue.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a receptacle; a handle hingedly connected therewith at one of its ends, so as to move in a vertical plane; means carried by said receptacle for detachable connection of the opposite end of said handle; and sounding devices operatively connected with the hinged end of said handle, so as to be operated upon the movement of the free end of said handle away from the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

lVAL'TER N. HASKELL.

\Vitnesses FRANK W. HAsKnLL, EVA WILLIAMS. 

